Lots Of Sugar, Not Much Spice

There’s a rich collection of Mexican desserts to balance the savory and sometimes fiery cuisine, and satisfy the sweet tooth. A few classics:

• FLAN, a creamy caramel custard

• PAN DE ELOTE, a sweet bread made from corn

• PALETAS OR MEXICAN ICE POPS, made with fresh fruit and nuts

• CHURROS, a fried treat similar to funnel cakes; Churro Relleno, or stuffed Churro has a choice of chocolate, vanilla or cajeta fillings

• MARIA COOKIES, thin, round, slightly sweet biscuits used in numerous dessert recipes

• TRES LECHES CAKE, a rich sponge cake soaked in a sweet milky liquid of three dairy products, usually evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream

• ARROZ CON LECHE or Rice Pudding

• PAY DE QUESO, cheesecake in a wide choice of flavors, such as chocolate, strawberry and limón

• MEXICAN WEDDING COOKIES, buttery pecan or walnut cookies rolled in confectioner’s sugar

Chef Talk

One of the most popular ways of eating cajeta in Mexico is by spreading it on a piece of bolillo, a Mexican bread, just like you would spread jelly on a piece of toast.

Molten Dulce De Leche with Peanut Butter Powder

Ingredients

2 oz Butter, Salted 2/3 oz All Purpose Flour 3 Ea Egg, Large 9 ¾ oz Dulce De Leche Spread

SUB-RECIPE: Peanut Butter Powder

16 oz Tapioca Maltodextrin Molecular Gastronomy Dry 32 oz Peanut Butter Creamy

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°F. 2. Butter and flour 6 (4 oz) ceramic ramekins; transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Using an electric mixer, beat 2 egg yolks and 1 whole egg in a medium bowl until doubled in volume and eggs hold a slight ribbon, about 2 1/2 minutes. Add Dulce De Leche; beat until well blended, then gradually add flour; beat until well blended. Divide batter among ramekins until 2/3 full.

Transfer sheet to oven. Bake cakes until outsides are golden brown in color but the centers still jiggle, 12-14 minutes.

Transfer sheet to a rack. Run a knife around edges of ramekins to loosen cakes.

Invert cakes onto plates or into shallow bowls. Serve hot with ice cream.